MATTHEW Hayden's career remains in the balance, but Australia is in control of the third Test against South Africa.

CARLOS Villanueva's stunning free kick gave Blackburn a 1-0 victory at non-league Blyth Spartans in the third round of the FA Cup, setting up a meeting with Sunderland for a place in the last 16.

ANDY Roddick began his 2009 season with a comfortable win and an ambition to regain the form which gave him victory over all three grand slam champions last year.

GLEN Mills, coach of triple Olympic gold medallist Usain Bolt, has identified three major flaws to fix to make the sprinter run even faster this year.

A SOUTH African official who blew the whistle on alleged corruption in the building of a stadium for the 2010 World Cup has been shot dead.

A BRILLIANT 30 minutes from Victorian paceman Peter Siddle has put Australia on the path to victory in the third Test.

DRUG testers have made Ben Cousins a target hours into his first training session of the year.

A SHELL-SHOCKED Ben Smith will appeal against a six-month ban imposed yesterday for striking fellow jockey Nick Mehmet at Hanging Rock on New Year's Day.

TWO of Australia's most fiercely combative professional cyclists will fight out a grudge-match finale to the Jayco Bay Classic criterium series tonight.

ANTHONY Rocca is counting down the days until Collingwood's 2009 season opener against Adelaide on Saturday, March 28.